Thin-film hybrid complementary circuits

ABSTRACT

Complementary circuits based on junction (or heterojunction) field effect transistor devices and bipolar junction (or heterojunction) transistor devices comprised of thin crystalline semiconductor-on-insulator substrates are provided which are compatible with low-cost and/or flexible substrates. Only one substrate doping type (i.e., n-type or p-type) is required for providing the complementary circuits and thus the number of masks (typically three or four) remains the same as that required for either n-channel or p-channel devices in the TFT level.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/910,619, filed Jun. 5, 2013 and is also related to the followingco-pending and co-assigned U.S. applications:

U.S. Ser. No. 13/839,161, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which claims benefitof U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/651,140, filed on May 24,2012; U.S. Ser. No. 13/839,213, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which claimsbenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/656,090, filed onJun. 6, 2012; U.S. Ser. No. 13/839,100, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, whichclaims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/651,125,filed on May 24, 2012; and U.S. Ser. No. 13/839,275, filed on Mar. 15,2013, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/651,134, filed on May 24, 2012. The contents of each of theaforementioned U.S. applications are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates to a semiconductor structure andcircuits that contain the semiconductor structure. More particularly,the present application relates to a semiconductor structure includingthin-film complementary semiconductor devices and complementary circuitsthat include such a semiconductor structure.

Complementary circuits are highly of interest in various areas oflarge-area and flexible electronics for driving, programming, addressingand/or memory applications. In most thin-film transistor (TFT) designs,an n-channel or p-channel TFT process requires three or four mask in theTFT level. However, having complementary circuits comprising both typesof transistors increases the number of masks to six or seven, which is asignificant cost addition that may not be affordable for manyapplications.

SUMMARY

Complementary circuits based on junction (or heterojunction) fieldeffect transistor (e.g., JFET or HJFET) devices and bipolar junction (orheterojunction) transistor (e.g., BJT or HBT) devices comprised of thincrystalline semiconductor-on-insulator substrates are provided which arecompatible with low-cost and/or flexible substrates. In the presentapplication, only one substrate doping type (i.e., n-type or p-type) isrequired for providing the complementary circuits and thus the number ofmasks (typically three or four) remains the same as that required foreither n-channel or p-channel devices in the TFT level.

In one aspect of the present application, a semiconductor structure isprovided. The semiconductor structure of the present applicationincludes a first active region comprising a first crystallinesemiconductor portion of a first conductivity type located on oneportion of a surface of an insulator layer, and a second active regioncomprising a second crystalline semiconductor portion of the firstconductivity type located on another portion of the insulator layer,wherein the second active region is laterally spaced apart from thefirst active region. The structure further includes a bipolar junctiontransistor located within the first active region and comprising anemitter of a second conductivity type, a base of the first conductivitytype and a collector of the second conductivity type, wherein the baseis located between, and laterally spaced apart from, the emitter and thecollector. The structure also includes a junction field effecttransistor located within the second active region and comprising adrain of the first conductivity type, a gate of the second conductivitytype, and a source of the first conductivity type, wherein the gate islocated between, and laterally spaced apart from, the drain and thesource. In accordance with the present application, the secondconductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type.

In another aspect of the present application, complementary circuits areprovided. The complementary circuits include a bipolar junctiontransistor located within a first active region and comprising anemitter of a second conductivity type, a base of a first conductivitytype and a collector of the second conductivity type, wherein the baseis located between, and laterally spaced apart from, the emitter and thecollector, the first active region comprises a first crystallinesemiconductor portion of the first conductivity type, and wherein thefirst conductivity type is opposite from the second conductivity type.The complementary circuit of this embodiment further includes a junctionfield effect transistor located within a second active region andcomprising a drain of the first conductivity type, a gate of the secondconductivity type, and a source of the first conductivity type, whereinthe gate is located between, and laterally spaced apart from, the drainand the source, the second active region comprises a second crystallinesemiconductor portion of the first conductivity type, and wherein thereis at least one electrical couple between the bipolar junctiontransistor and the junction field effect transistor.

In one embodiment, the collector of the bipolar junction transistor iselectrically coupled to the drain of the junction field effecttransistor and the base of the bipolar junction transistor iselectrically coupled to the gate of the junction field effecttransistor. In such an embodiment, the source of the junction fieldeffect transistor is electrically coupled to a first terminal of a powersupply and the emitter of the bipolar junction transistor iselectrically coupled to a second terminal of the power supply.

In another further embodiment, the collector of the bipolar junctiontransistor is electrically coupled to the source of the junction fieldeffect transistor and are configured to either receive an input signalor provide an output signal and the emitter of the bipolar junctiontransistor is electrically coupled to the drain of the junction fieldeffect transistor and are configured to either receive an input signalor provide an output signal, and wherein the base of the bipolarjunction transistor is configured to receive a first control signal andthe gate of the junction field effect transistor is configured toreceive a second control signal, wherein the first and second controlsignals applying a control logic applied to the input signal.

In a further embodiment, the complementary circuit includes a firstcomplementary inverter circuit and a second complementary invertercircuit in a cross-coupled configuration having an output of eachinverter feedback as input to the other inverter. Both firstcomplementary and second complementary inverter circuits comprise: abipolar junction transistor located within a first active region andcomprising an emitter of a second conductivity type, a base of a firstconductivity type and a collector of the second conductivity type,wherein the base is located between, and laterally spaced apart from,the emitter and the collector, the first active region comprises a firstcrystalline semiconductor portion of the first conductivity type, andthe first conductivity type is opposite from the second conductivitytype; and a junction field effect transistor located within a secondactive region and comprising a drain of the first conductivity type, agate of the second conductivity type, and a source of the firstconductivity type, wherein the gate is located between, and laterallyspaced apart from, the drain and the source, the second active regioncomprises a second crystalline semiconductor portion of the firstconductivity type, wherein the collector of the bipolar junctiontransistor is electrically coupled to the drain of the junction fieldeffect transistor and wherein the base of the bipolar junctiontransistor is electrically coupled to the gate of the junction fieldeffect transistor, and the source of the junction field effecttransistor is electrically coupled to a first terminal of a power supplyand the emitter of the bipolar junction transistor is electricallycoupled to a second terminal of the power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating a crystalline semiconductor material located on an surfaceof an insulator layer and having a material stack of, from bottom totop, a blanket layer of passivation material and a blanket layer ofsacrificial material located on a surface of the crystallinesemiconductor material in accordance with an embodiment of the presentapplication.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 1 after patterning the blanket layerof sacrificial material to include first contact openings that exposedifferent portions of a topmost surface of the blanket layer ofpassivation material.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 2 after transferring the firstcontact openings into the blanket layer of passivation material usingremaining portions of the blanket layer of sacrificial material as anetch mask, wherein after the transferring of the first contact openingsinto the blanket layer of passivation material first surface portions ofthe crystalline semiconductor material are exposed.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 3 after forming at least one firstsemiconductor material on the first surface portions of the crystallinesemiconductor material and atop remaining portions of the blanket layerof sacrificial material.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 4 after forming first electrodematerial portions on uppermost surfaces of the at least one firstsemiconductor material and atop each first contact opening.

FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 5 after removing exposed portions ofthe at least one first semiconductor material and remaining portions ofthe blanket layer of sacrificial material using each first electrodematerial portion as an etch mask.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 6 after forming another blanket layerof sacrificial material on exposed surfaces of remaining portions of theblanket layer of passivation material and each first electrode materialportion.

FIG. 8 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 7 after patterning the anotherblanket layer of sacrificial material to include second contact openingsthat expose different surface portions of remaining passivation materiallayer portions.

FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 8 after transferring the secondcontact openings into the exposed remaining passivation material layerportions using the remaining portions of the another blanket layer ofsacrificial material as an etch mask, wherein after the transferring ofthe second contact openings, second surface portions of the crystallinesemiconductor material are exposed.

FIG. 10 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 9 after forming at least one secondsemiconductor material on each second surface portion of the crystallinesemiconductor material and atop remaining portions of the other blanketlayer of sacrificial material.

FIG. 11 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 10 after forming second electrodematerial portions on surface portions of the second semiconductormaterial and atop each second contact opening.

FIG. 12 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 11 after removing exposed portions ofthe at least one second semiconductor material and remaining portions ofthe other blanket layer of sacrificial material using each secondelectrode material portion as an etch mask.

FIG. 13 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 12 after defining active regions inthe crystalline semiconductor material.

FIG. 14 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 13 after formation of a firstinterconnect level containing first metal contacts.

FIG. 15 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 14 after formation of a secondinterconnect level containing second metal contacts.

FIG. 16 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure shown in FIG. 3 after forming at least afirst semiconductor material comprising a crystalline semiconductormaterial portion and adjoining non-crystalline semiconductor materialportions.

FIG. 17 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 16 after forming another blanketlayer of sacrificial material atop the first semiconductor material.

FIG. 18 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 17 after forming second contactopenings within portions of the another blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial, portions of the non-crystalline semiconductor materialportions of the first semiconductor material, and remaining portions ofthe sacrificial material layer portions, wherein each second contactopening exposes a surface of the remaining passivation material layerportions.

FIG. 19 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 18 after transferring the secondcontact openings to the exposed remaining passivation material layerportions, wherein after the transferring of the second contact openings,second surface portions of the crystalline semiconductor material areexposed.

FIG. 20 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 19 after forming at least a secondsemiconductor material on the second surface portions of the crystallinesemiconductor material and remaining portions of the another blanketlayer of sacrificial material, wherein the second semiconductor materialincludes second crystalline semiconductor material portions andadjoining non-crystalline semiconductor portions.

FIG. 21 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 20 after performing an etch.

FIG. 22 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 23 after forming active regions inthe crystalline semiconductor material.

FIG. 23 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 22 after forming electrode materialportions on each portion of the first crystalline semiconductor materialand the second crystalline semiconductor material.

FIG. 24 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 23 after formation of a firstinterconnect level containing first metal contacts.

FIG. 25 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 24 after formation of a secondinterconnect level containing second metal contacts.

FIG. 26 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 22 after formation of electrodematerial portions on each portion of the first crystalline semiconductormaterial and the second crystalline semiconductor material in accordancewith another embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 27 is a pictorial representation (through a cross sectional view)illustrating the structure of FIG. 26 after forming an interconnectlevel containing first metal contacts.

FIG. 28A is a circuit schematic of an exemplary complementary invertercircuit including the semiconductor structure of the present applicationformed upon a p-type crystalline semiconductor material.

FIG. 28B is a circuit schematic of an exemplary complementary invertercircuit including the semiconductor structure of the present applicationformed upon an n-type crystalline semiconductor material.

FIG. 29A is a circuit schematic of an exemplary pass transistor circuitincluding the semiconductor of the present application formed upon ap-type crystalline semiconductor material.

FIG. 29B is a circuit schematic of an exemplary pass transistor circuitincluding the semiconductor of the present application formed upon ann-type crystalline semiconductor material.

FIG. 30 is a circuit schematic of an exemplary OLED driver circuitincluding the semiconductor structure of the present application.

FIG. 31 is a circuit schematic of an exemplary complementary SRAM cellcircuit including the semiconductor structure of the presentapplication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application will now be described in greater detail byreferring to the following discussion and drawings that accompany thepresent application. It is noted that the drawings of the presentapplication are provided for illustrative purposes and, as such, theyare not drawn to scale. In the drawings and description that follows,like elements are described and referred to by like reference numerals.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth,such as particular structures, components, materials, dimensions,processing steps and techniques, in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present application. However, it will beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the presentapplication may be practiced with viable alternative process optionswithout these specific details. In other instances, well-knownstructures or processing steps have not been described in detail inorder to avoid obscuring the various embodiments of the presentapplication.

The term “crystalline” is used throughout the present application todenote a single crystalline material, a multi-crystalline material or apolycrystalline material. Typically, the crystalline semiconductormaterial that is employed in the present application is comprised of asingle crystalline semiconductor material. The term “non-crystalline” isused throughout the present application to denote an amorphous,nano-crystalline or micro-crystalline material. Typically, thenon-crystalline semiconductor material that is employed in the presentapplication is amorphous. The term “intrinsic” is used throughout thepresent application to denote a semiconductor material that contains nodoping atoms therein or alternatively a semiconductor material in whichthe concentration of dopant atoms therein is less than 10¹⁵ atoms/cm³.The term “hydrogenated” is used throughout the present application todenote that a semiconductor material includes hydrogen therein.

The term “circuit” is used throughout the present application to denotea set of devices that provides at least one current path between a powersupply device and electrical ground. The term “complementary circuit” isused throughout the present application to denote a circuit thatincludes two different types of transistors. In the present application,one of the transistors is a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), while theother is a junction field effect transistors (JFET). The BJT can includea homojunction device or a heterojunction device. Likewise, the JFET caninclude a homojunction device or a heterojunction device.

A bipolar junction transistor has terminals labeled base, collector, andemitter. A small current at the base terminal (that is, flowing betweenthe base and the emitter) can control or switch a much larger currentbetween the collector and emitter terminals. Bipolar junctiontransistors conduct by using both majority and minority carriers.

For a junction field effect transistor, the terminals are labeled gate,source, and drain, and a voltage at the gate can control a currentbetween source and drain. The JFET gate forms a p-n diode with thechannel which lies between the source and drain.

The present application provides a semiconductor structure that includesthin film complementary devices, i.e., BJTs and JFETs, located on a sameconductivity type substrate and complementary circuits that include thesemiconductor structure of the present application. The semiconductorstructure of the present application, which is shown for example, inFIG. 13, 23 or 26, includes a first active region comprising a firstcrystalline semiconductor portion of a first conductivity type locatedon one portion of a surface of an insulator layer, and a second activeregion comprising a second crystalline semiconductor portion of thefirst conductivity type located on another portion of the insulatorlayer, wherein the second active region is laterally spaced apart fromthe first active region. The structure further includes a bipolarjunction transistor located within the first active region andcomprising an emitter of a second conductivity type, a base of the firstconductivity type and a collector of the second conductivity type,wherein the base is located between, and laterally spaced apart from,the emitter and the collector. The structure also includes a junctionfield effect transistor located within the second active region andcomprising a drain of the first conductivity type, a gate of the secondconductivity type, and a source of the first conductivity type, whereinthe gate is located between, and laterally spaced apart from, the drainand the source. In accordance with the present application, the secondconductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type.

Various digital and analog circuits can be realized utilizing thesemiconductor structure of the present application. Examples include,but are not limited to, logic gates, e.g., AND, NAND, OR, and NOR,latches, multiplexers, amplifiers, memory, driver or addressing circuitsfor active matrix applications such as, for example, displays andsensors. In the present application, an inverter circuit, a SRAM cellcircuit, a pass transistor circuit, and an OLED driver circuit will bespecifically exemplified.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-15 which illustrate one embodiment ofthe present application in which a non-self aligned process is employedin forming an exemplary semiconductor structure in accordance with thepresent application, which can be used within an inverter circuit.Although an inverter circuit is described and illustrated, the samebasic processing steps can be used in forming other types of circuitsincluding, but not limited to, a SRAM cell circuit, a pass transistorcircuit, and an OLED driver circuit.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is an initial structure that can beemployed in one embodiment of the present application. The initialstructure illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a crystalline semiconductormaterial 10 having a first side and a second side which is opposite thefirst side. A material stack of, from bottom to top, a blanket layer ofpassivation material 12 and a blanket layer of sacrificial material 14is located on one of the sides of the crystalline semiconductor material10. The blanket layer of passivation material 14 can also be referred toherein as a blanket layer of first sacrificial material. An insulatorlayer 8 such as, for example, an oxide, nitride, and/or oxynitride, islocated on the other side of the crystalline semiconductor material 10.In some embodiments (not shown), a handle substrate such as, forexample, a semiconductor substrate, glass, plastic or metal foil can belocated directly beneath the insulating layer 8. In embodiments wherethe handle substrate is insulating, a separate insulating layer is notneeded since the insulating handle substrate can serve as the insulatingmaterial. In yet other embodiments, the crystalline semiconductormaterial 10 may represent a topmost semiconductor layer of amultilayered semiconductor material stack.

In one embodiment, the crystalline semiconductor material 10 that can beemployed in the present application can be an III-V compoundsemiconductor which includes at least one element from Group IIIA (i.e.,Group 13) of the Periodic Table of Elements and at least one elementfrom Group VA (i.e., Group 15) of the Periodic Table of Elements. Therange of possible formulae for suitable III-V compound semiconductorsthat can be used in the present application is quite broad because theseelements can form binary (two elements, e.g., gallium (III) arsenide(GaAs)), ternary (three elements, e.g., indium gallium arsenide(InGaAs)) and quaternary (four elements, e.g., aluminum gallium indiumphosphide (AlInGaP)) alloys.

In another embodiment of the present application, the crystallinesemiconductor material 10 can be a semiconductor material having theformula Si_(y)Ge_(1-y) wherein y is 0≦y≦1. In some embodiments, in whichy is 1, the crystalline semiconductor material 10 can be comprisedentirely of Si. In another embodiment, in which y is 0, the crystallinesemiconductor material 10 can be comprised entirely of Ge. In yetanother embodiment and when y is other than 0 or 1, the crystallinesemiconductor material 10 can be comprised entirely of a SiGe alloy. Inyet another embodiment of the present application, the crystallinesemiconductor material 10 can be a semiconductor material comprised ofSiC.

In some embodiments of the present application, the crystallinesemiconductor material 10 may include nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine,deuterium, chlorine or any combination thereof. When present, theconcentration of the aforementioned species can be from 1 atomic percent(%) to 10 atomic percent (%). Other concentrations that are lesser than,or greater than, the aforementioned concentration range can also bepresent.

In accordance with the present application, the entirety of thecrystalline semiconductor material 10 is of a first conductivity type,i.e., either p-type or n-type. As used herein, “p-type” refers to theaddition of impurities to an intrinsic semiconductor that createsdeficiencies of valence electrons (i.e., holes). In a Si-containingsemiconductor material, examples of p-type dopants, i.e., impurities,include but are not limited to, boron, aluminum, gallium and indium. Inone embodiment, in which the first conductivity type of the crystallinesemiconductor material 10 of the present application is p-type, thep-type dopant is present in a concentration ranging from 1×10⁹ atoms/cm³to 1×10²⁰ atoms/cm³. In another embodiment, in which the firstconductivity type of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 of thepresent application is p-type, the p-type dopant is present in aconcentration ranging from 1×10¹⁴ atoms/cm³ to 1×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³. As usedherein, “n-type” refers to the addition of impurities that contributesfree electrons to an intrinsic semiconductor. In a Si-containingsemiconductor, examples of n-type dopants, i.e., impurities, include butare not limited to, antimony, arsenic and phosphorous. In oneembodiment, in which the first conductivity type of the crystallinesemiconductor material 10 of the present application is n-type, then-type dopant is present in a concentration ranging from 1×10⁹ atoms/cm³to 1×10²⁰ atoms/cm³. In another embodiment, in which the firstconductivity type of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 of thepresent application is n-type, the n-type dopant is present in aconcentration ranging from 1×10¹⁴ atoms/cm³ to 1×10¹⁹.

The dopant concentration of the first conductivity type within thecrystalline semiconductor material 10 of the present application may begraded or uniform. By “uniform” it is meant that the dopantconcentration of first conductivity type is the same throughout theentire thickness of the crystalline semiconductor material 10. Forexample, a crystalline semiconductor material 10 having a uniform dopantconcentration of the first conductivity type may have the same dopantconcentration at the upper surface and bottom surface of thesemiconductor material, as well as the same dopant concentration at acentral portion of the semiconductor material between the upper surfaceand the bottom surface of the crystalline semiconductor material 10. By“graded” it is meant that the dopant concentration of the firstconductivity type varies throughout the thickness of the crystallinesemiconductor material 10. For example, a crystalline semiconductormaterial 10 having a graded dopant concentration may have an uppersurface with a greater dopant concentration of the first conductivitytype than the bottom surface of the crystalline semiconductor material10, and vice versa. It is noted that the other semiconductor materialsthat are doped and that are mentioned in this application may have agraded or uniform doping concentration.

In some embodiments, the first conductivity type can be introducedduring the growth of a crystalline semiconductor material that can beused in providing the crystalline semiconductor material 10 of thepresent application. For example, an in-situ doped epitaxial growthprocess can be used in forming the crystalline semiconductor material10. Alternatively, the conductivity type can be introduced into anintrinsic crystalline semiconductor material by utilizing ionimplantation, and/or gas phase doping and the doped crystallinesemiconductor material can be employed as the crystalline semiconductormaterial 10. The thickness of the crystalline semiconductor material 10can be from 3 nm to 3 μm. Other thicknesses that are lesser than, orgreater than, the aforementioned thickness range can also be employedfor the thickness of the crystalline semiconductor material 10.

A blanket layer (i.e., contiguous layer) of a passivation material 12 isformed on an entire surface of the crystalline semiconductor material10. In some embodiments, and as illustrated in the drawings of thepresent application, the blanket layer of passivation material 12includes a single layer. In other embodiments, the blanket layer ofpassivation material 12 includes a multilayered structure containingvarious layers of passivation materials. The passivation material servesto saturate dangling bonds on the surface of the crystallinesemiconductor material 10, in order to reduce the recombination ofcarriers at the surface of the crystalline semiconductor material 10.The passivation material may also reduce the recombination of carriersat the surface of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 by“field-induced” passivation, for example by repelling the minoritycarriers from the surface of the crystalline semiconductor material 10.Field-induced pas sivation may be facilitated by the presence of fixedelectronic charges in the passivation layer, formation of dipoles at thepassivation/substrate interface, or the electric field induced by theworkfunction difference between the passivation layer and the substratesemiconductor material. The passivation material may also serve toprevent air or moisture from being introduced into the crystallinesemiconductor material 10.

The passivation material that can be employed in the present applicationincludes, for example, a hard mask material such as, for example, asemiconductor oxide, a semiconductor nitride, a semiconductoroxynitride, or a multilayered stack thereof. The passivation materialmay also be comprised of a high-k dielectric (k>silicon oxide) such asaluminum oxide or hafnium oxide. In some embodiments, which is moretypical to III-V materials, the passivation material may be comprised ofa substantially undoped semiconductor material having a larger band gapthan that of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 to passivate thesurface of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 by repelling theminority carriers induced by workfunction difference between thesemiconductor materials formed by the passivation material and thecrystalline semiconductor material 10.

Examples of passivation material that can be used as the blanket layerof passivation material 12 include, but not limited to, hydrogenatedamorphous silicon nitride (a-SiN_(x):H), hydrogenated amorphous siliconoxide (a-SiO_(x):H), hydrogenated amorphous silicon oxynitride(a-SiN_(x)O_(y):H), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) and hafnium-oxide (HfO₂).Nano-crystalline and microcrystalline forms of hydrogenated materialssuch as SiO_(x), SiN_(x) and SiN_(x)O_(y) may also be used. The blanketlayer of passivation material 12 can have a thickness from 5 nm to 50nm. Other thicknesses that are below or above the aforementionedthickness range can also be employed.

In one embodiment, the blanket layer of passivation material 12 can beformed by a deposition process including, for example, chemical vapordeposition, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, atomic layerdeposition or chemical solution deposition. In other embodiments, theblanket layer of passivation material 12 can be formed utilizing athermal technique such as, for example, oxidation and/or nitridation. Inyet other embodiments, a combination of a deposition process and athermal technique can be used to form the blanket layer of passivationmaterial 12. In still another embodiment, which is more typical to III-Vmaterials, a substantially undoped semiconductor material having alarger band gap than that of the crystalline semiconductor material 10can be used as the blanket layer of passivation material 12 and such amaterial can be grown on the crystalline semiconductor material 10 byconventional growth techniques such as, for example, molecular beamepitaxy or metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Hydrogen may beincluded in some of the above mentioned processes to form a passivationmaterial that is hydrogenated. In one embodiment in which hydrogen ispresent in the passivation material, the hydrogen content within thepassivation material may range from 5 atomic % to 40 atomic %. Theblanket layer of passivation material 12 that is formed at this stage ofthe present application is a contiguous layer.

Next, a blanket layer of sacrificial material 14 is formed on an exposedtopmost surface of the blanket layer of passivation material 12. In someembodiments, and as illustrated in the drawings of the presentapplication, the blanket layer of sacrificial material 14 includes asingle layer. In other embodiments, the blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial 14 includes a multilayered structure containing various layersof sacrificial materials. As shown, the blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial 14 is a contiguous layer that is present on the entire topmostsurface of the blanket layer of passivation material 12.

The blanket layer of sacrificial material 14 that is employed in thepresent application includes a layer (or layers) of semiconductingmaterial (or materials), which is (are) substantially resistive todilute HF. Resistance against dilute HF for a given material is arelative term and depends on the concentration of HF solution andexposure time to HF, as well as the thickness of the material beingused. For most substrate materials, typically a 1:100 HF solution (1:100refers to the volume ratio of HF to de-ionized water) is used forhydrogen termination and the exposure time to dilute HF is typically inthe range of 30 seconds to 5 minutes; however, as known in the art,longer or shorter times may be used as well. Also, higher or lowerconcentrations of HF may be used.

Substantial resistance against HF indicates that the sacrificialmaterial serves as barrier against HF preventing HF from reaching theunderlying passivation material which is typically soluble in HF.Examples of semiconductor materials that can be used as the blanketlayer of sacrificial material 14 include, but are not limited to,a-Si:H, a-SiC:H, a-SiGe:H or combinations thereof; throughout thepresent application, the symbol “a” denotes amorphous and the symbol “H”denotes hydrogenated. The content of hydrogen within the sacrificialmaterial may vary, but a typically range of hydrogen within thesacrificial material is from 5 atomic % to 40 atomic % hydrogen.Nanocrystalline and microcrystalline forms of these materials may alsobe used. Combinations or stacks of these materials may be used as theblanket layer of sacrificial material 14. Typically Si and SiC basedmaterials are preferred over Ge and SiGe based materials. For example, a3-5 nm (or thicker) layer of a-Si:H or a-SiC:H is typicallysubstantially resistant against 1:100 dilute HF for exposure times inthe range of 30 seconds to 5 minutes.

The blanket layer of sacrificial material 14 is typically non-doped andcan be formed by conventional deposition processes. In one embodiment,the blanket layer of sacrificial material 14 can be formed by plasmaenhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). In other embodiments, ahot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) process can be used informing the blanket layer of sacrificial material 14. In yet anotherembodiment, sputtering can be used in forming the blanket layer ofsacrificial material 14. The blanket layer of sacrificial material 14can be formed using conditions, source gases and other gases that arewell known to those skilled in the art including those that will bementioned in greater detail herein below in forming the first and secondsemiconductor contact materials. The blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial 14 can have a thickness from 5 nm to 50 nm. Other thicknessesthat are below or above the aforementioned thickness range can also beemployed.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 1after patterning the blanket layer of sacrificial material 14 to includefirst contact openings 16 that expose different portions of the topmostsurface of the blanket layer of passivation material 12. The number offirst contact openings 16 that are formed varies and is dependent on thetype and number of semiconductor devices that are to be subsequentlyformed on different surface portions of the crystalline semiconductormaterial 10. In one embodiment, and as illustrated in the drawings,three first contact openings 16 are formed.

The remaining portions of the blanket layer of sacrificial material 14,which can be herein after referred to as first sacrificial materiallayer portions, are designated as 14 r in the drawings of the presentapplication. The remaining portions of the blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial 14 may also be referred to as first patterned sacrificialmaterial layer portions.

The patterning of the blanket layer of sacrificial material 14 isperformed utilizing lithography and etching. Lithography includesforming a photoresist material (not shown) on an exposed surface of theblanket layer of sacrificial material 14, exposing the photoresistmaterial to a desired pattern of radiation, and developing thephotoresist material utilizing a conventional resist developer. Thedesired pattern that is formed into the photoresist material can be inthe form of a via or a trench. The etching step, which transfers thepattern from the patterned photoresist into the blanket layer ofsacrificial material 14, can include dry etching (i.e., reactive ionetching, ion beam etching, or plasma etching), wet chemical etching, ora combination thereof. In one embodiment of the present application, aselective etch process (typically a dry etch) is used to pattern theblanket layer of sacrificial material 14. For example, plasma chemistrybased on SF₆, SF₆/O₂ or SF₆/Cl₂F₂ may be used for reactive ion etching.The etch rate of the blanket layer of sacrificial material 14 istypically higher than that of the blanket layer of passivation material12 in such plasmas. Alternatively, an etch process (e.g., based on CF₄)which is not selective may also be used by controlling the etch time.After pattern transfer, the patterned photoresist is typically removedfrom the structure utilizing a conventional stripping process such as,for example, ashing.

In some embodiments, the width of each first contact opening 16 that isformed is in the range of 10 nm to 100 nm. In other embodiments, thewidth of each first contact opening 16 that is formed is in the range of50 nm to 1 μm. In yet other embodiments, the width of each first contactopening 16 that is formed is in the range of 500 nm to 100 μm. Firstcontact openings 16 having a width narrower than 10 nm or wider than 100μm can also be employed.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 2 aftertransferring each first contact opening 16 into the blanket layer ofpassivation material 12 using remaining portions of the blanket layer ofsacrificial material, i.e., the first sacrificial material layerportions 14 r, as an etch mask. After the transferring each firstcontact opening 16 into the blanket layer of passivation material 12,first surface portions of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 areexposed. The remaining portions of the blanket layer of passivationmaterial 12, which can be herein after referred to as first passivationmaterial layer portions, are designated as 12 r in the drawings of thepresent application. The remaining portions of the blanket layer ofpassivation material 12 may also be referred to as first patternedpassivation material layer portions.

The transferring of each first contact opening 16 into the blanket layerof passivation material 12 includes an etching process which isselective for removing the exposed portions of the blanket layer ofpassivation material 12 as compared with the overlying first sacrificialmaterial layer portions 14 r. The etch used in transferring each firstcontact opening 16 can include dry etching (i.e., reactive ion etching,ion beam etching, or plasma etching), wet chemical etching, or acombination thereof. Typically, dilute HF is used for transferring eachfirst contact opening 16 into the blanket layer of passivation material12. In some embodiments, the dilute HF may include a sufficiently longover-etch time so that the exposed first surface portion of thecrystalline semiconductor material 10 is hydrogen terminated and readyfor the deposition of the semiconductor contact material. Otherprocesses/materials may be used for etching the blanket layer ofpassivation material 12 (selectively against the first sacrificialmaterial layer portions 14 r), followed by exposing the first surfaceportion of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 to dilute HF forhydrogen termination. Also, other techniques know in the art may be usedfor hydrogen termination instead of dilute HF, or in addition to (forexample following or preceding) dilute HF for enhanced hydrogentermination.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 3after forming at least one first semiconductor material 18 on each firstsurface portion of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 and atopthe remaining portions of the blanket layer of sacrificial material,i.e., first sacrificial material layer portions 14 r.

In one embodiment, the at least one first semiconductor material 18 is asingle layer of semiconductor material. In another embodiment, the atleast one first semiconductor material 18 can be a multilayeredstructure comprising at least two layers of the same or differentsemiconductor materials. When a single semiconductor material layer isemployed, the at least one first semiconductor material 18 is doped tohave a conductivity type, e.g., p-type or n-type, that is the same ordifferent from that of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 inwhich contact is made. When a multilayered structure is employed, the atleast one first semiconductor material may comprise semiconductormaterials that are all doped, or some that are doped and some that areintrinsic. When doped, the semiconductor material layers of themultilayered structure have a conductivity type that is the same ordifferent from that of the crystalline semiconductor material 10. By wayof example, the first semiconductor material 18 may comprise a stack of,from bottom to top, an intrinsic semiconductor material and a dopedsemiconductor material; a stack of, from bottom to top, a dopedsemiconductor material, and another doped semiconductor material each ofthe same conductivity and comprising a same semiconductor material; or astack of, from bottom to top, a doped semiconductor material, andanother doped semiconductor material each of the same conductivity andcomprising different semiconductor materials. The semiconductormaterials within a multilayered stack which can be used as the at leastone first semiconductor material 18 may have different band gaps fromeach other.

The at least one first semiconductor material 18 may be crystalline,non-crystalline or a combination of crystalline and non-crystalline. Insome embodiments, a single layer of first semiconductor material 18 canbe formed that comprises crystalline semiconductor portions andadjoining non-crystalline semiconductor material portions. In such anembodiment, each single crystalline portion is formed in direct contactwith a first surface portion of the crystalline semiconductor material10 and each adjoining non-crystalline portion is present on theuppermost surface of each first sacrificial material layer portion 14 r.

The at least one first semiconductor material 18 can be hydrogenated,non-hydrogenated or, if a multilayered stack is used the varioussemiconductor materials within the multilayered stack can behydrogenated, non-hydrogenated or a combination of hydrogenated andnon-hydrogenated. In one embodiment in which at least one of thesemiconductor material layers of the at least one first semiconductormaterial 18 is hydrogenated, the hydrogenated semiconductor material maycontain from 5 atomic % to 40 atomic % hydrogen therein. In anotherembodiment in which at least one of the semiconductor material layers ofthe at least one first semiconductor material 18 is hydrogenated, thehydrogenated semiconductor material may contain from 10 atomic % to 25atomic % hydrogen therein. In yet another embodiment in which the atleast one of the semiconductor material layers of the at least one firstsemiconductor material 18 is hydrogenated, the hydrogenatedsemiconductor material may contain from 20 atomic % to 30 atomic %hydrogen therein.

The at least one first semiconductor material 18 may comprise a sameand/or different semiconductor material(s) as that of the crystallinesemiconductor material 10. In one embodiment, the at least one firstsemiconductor material 18 has a formula Si_(x)Ge_(1-x) wherein x is0≦x≦1. As such, the at least one first semiconductor material 18 maycomprise Si (when x is 1), Ge (when x is 0), or a SiGe (when x is otherthan 1, or 0).

In some embodiments of the present application, the at least one firstsemiconductor material 18 can contain C therein. When present, C can bepresent in a concentration from 0 atomic % to 50 atomic %. In someembodiments, the at least one first semiconductor material 18 cancontain from 0 atomic % to 25 atomic % carbon therein. The carbonimpurity can be added by way of either a source gas that includescarbon, or by introducing a carbon source gas into the gas mixture thatis employed in the present application for forming the at least onefirst semiconductor material 18.

In some embodiments of the present application, the at least one firstsemiconductor material 18 may include nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine,deuterium, chlorine or any combination thereof. When present, theconcentration of the aforementioned species can be from 1 atomic % to 10atomic %. Other concentrations that are lesser than, or greater than,the aforementioned concentration range can also be present.

When at least one of the semiconductor material layers of the least onefirst semiconductor material 18 is doped, the dopant that is containedwithin the at least one semiconductor material layers can be a p-typedopant or an n-type dopant. The dopant within each semiconductor layerof the at least one semiconductor material 18 can be uniformly presentor present as a gradient. In a Si-containing doped semiconductormaterial examples of p-type dopants, i.e., impurities, include but arenot limited to, boron, aluminum, gallium and indium. In one embodiment,in which at least one of semiconductor material layers of the at leastone first semiconductor material 18 includes a p-type dopant, the p-typedopant is present in a concentration ranging from 10¹⁶ atoms/cm³ to 10²¹atoms/cm³. In another embodiment, in which at least one of semiconductormaterial layers of the at least one first semiconductor material 18contains a p-type dopant, the p-type dopant is present in aconcentration ranging from 10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ to 5×10²⁰ atoms/cm³.

In a Si-containing doped semiconductor material, examples of n-typedopants, i.e., impurities, include but are not limited to, antimony,arsenic and phosphorous. In one embodiment, in which at least one ofsemiconductor material layers of the at least one first semiconductormaterial 18 contains an n-type dopant, the n-type dopant is present in aconcentration ranging from 10¹⁶ atoms/cm³ to 10²¹ atoms/cm³. In anotherembodiment, in which the at least one of semiconductor material layersof the at least one first semiconductor material 18 contains an n-typedopant, the n-type dopant is present in a concentration ranging from10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ to 5×10²⁰ atoms/cm³.

In one embodiment, the at least one first semiconductor material 18 canbe formed by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). PECVD isa deposition process used to deposit films from a gas state (vapor) to asolid state on a deposition substrate. Chemical reactions are involvedin the process, which occur after creation of a plasma of the reactinggases. A plasma is any gas in which a significant percentage of theatoms or molecules are ionized. Fractional ionization in plasmas usedfor deposition and related materials processing varies from about 10⁻⁴in capacitive discharge plasmas to as high as 5-10% in high densityinductive plasmas. Processing plasmas are typically operated atpressures of a few millitorr to a few torr, although arc discharges andinductive plasmas can be ignited at atmospheric pressure. In someembodiments, the plasma is created by RF (AC) frequency, such as a radiofrequency induced glow charge, or D discharge between two electrodes,the space between which is filled with the reacting gases. In oneexample, a PECVD device employs a parallel plate chamber configuration.In other embodiments, a hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD)process can be used in forming the at least one first semiconductormaterial 18. In yet another embodiment, sputtering can be used informing the at least one first semiconductor material 18.

In some embodiments, the at least one first semiconductor material 18can be formed at a temperature close to 200° C., with highest qualityfilms typically grown at temperatures in the range of 150° C.-250° C.,however temperatures in the range from room-temperature (i.e., 20° C.)up to 450° C. may be used.

In other embodiments in which the at least one first semiconductormaterial 18 includes a semiconductor material comprising crystallinesemiconductor portions and adjoining non-crystalline semiconductorportions, the semiconductor material, which includes the crystallinesemiconductor portions and adjoining non-crystalline semiconductorportions, can be epitaxially grown at a temperature of less than 500° C.using a gas mixture that includes a source gas, optionally hydrogen anda dopant gas. The lower temperature limit for the epitaxial growth ofsuch a semiconductor material is generally 100° C. In some embodiments,the semiconductor material, which includes the crystalline semiconductorportions and adjoining non-crystalline semiconductor portions, can beepitaxially grown at a temperature from 150° C. to 300° C. In otherembodiments, the semiconductor material, which includes the crystallinesemiconductor portions and adjoining non-crystalline semiconductorportions, can be epitaxially grown at a temperature from 150° C. to 250°C.

In one embodiment in which a semiconductor material, which includescrystalline semiconductor portions and adjoining non-crystallinesemiconductor portions, is formed, such a layer can be formed by PECVD.In some embodiments, the pressure for the PECVD process that can be usedfor epitaxially growing the semiconductor material, which includes thecrystalline semiconductor portions and adjoining non-crystallinesemiconductor portions, can range from 10 mTorr to 5 Torr, and in oneexample may be in the range of 250 mtorr to 900 mTorr. The power densityfor the PECVD process for epitaxially growing the doped hydrogenatedsemiconductor material layer may range from 1 mW/cm² to 100 mW/cm², andin one example may be in the range of 3 mW/cm² to 10 mW/cm². Furtherdetails regarding the epitaxial growth process for forming thesemiconductor material, which includes the crystalline semiconductorportions and adjoining non-crystalline semiconductor portions, of thepresent application are described in U.S. Patent Publication No.2012/0210932, which is owned by the assignee of the present application,and is incorporated herein by reference.

In any of the methods mentioned above, the source gas that can be usedto form the at least one first semiconductor material 18 may comprise aSi-containing precursor, such as, for example, a silane and a disilaneand/or a germanium-containing precursor such as, for example, a germane,GeH₄. In some embodiments, Si-containing and Ge-containing precursorscan be used in forming the doped hydrogenated semiconductor materiallayer. Other gases including a carbon source such, as for example, CH₄may be used. In some embodiments, ammonia (NH₃), nitrous oxide (N₂O) orother gas sources may be used for nitrogen containing semiconductormaterial layers. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), N₂O or O₂ may be used to provideoxygen for oxygen containing semiconductor material layers. A carriergas such as hydrogen (H₂), deuterium (D₂) helium (He) or argon (Ar) maybe used for any or all of the layers. The carrier gas may be pre-mixedwith the gas sources or flowed simultaneously with the gas source at thetime of growth.

In one embodiment, a gas mixture including a ratio of hydrogen to sourcegas of from greater than 5:1 can be used. In another embodiment, theratio of hydrogen to source gas that can be used ranges from 5:1 to1000:1. For example, epitaxial growth of silicon is possible attemperatures as low as 150° C. with ratios of hydrogen to silane (SiH₄)ranging from 5:1 to 20:1.

The dopant gas that can be present during the formation of at least onesemiconductor material layer within the at least one first semiconductormaterial 18 provides the conductivity type, either n-type or p-type, tothe at least one semiconductor material. When a doped semiconductormaterial layer of an n-type conductivity is to be formed, the dopant gasincludes at least one n-type dopant, e.g., phosphorus or arsenic. Forexample, when phosphorus is the n-type dopant, the dopant gas can bephosphine (PH₃), and when arsenic is the n-type dopant, the dopant gascan be arsine (AsH₃). In one example, when the conductivity type dopantis n-type, the dopant gas include phosphine gas (PH₃) present in a ratioto silane (SiH₄) ranging from 0.01% to 10%. In another example, when theconductivity type dopant is n-type, the dopant gas include phosphine gas(PH₃) present in a ratio to silane (SiH₄) ranging from 0.1% to 2%. Whena semiconductor material layer of a p-type conductivity is to be formed,a dopant gas including at least one p-type dopant, e.g., B, is employed.For example, when boron is the p-type dopant, the dopant gas can bediborane (B₂H₆). In one embodiment, wherein the conductivity type dopantis p-type, the dopant gas may be diborane (B₂H₆) present in a ratio tosilane (SiH₄) ranging from 0.01% to 10%. In another embodiment, whereinthe conductivity type dopant is p-type, the dopant gas may be diborane(B₂H₆) present in a ratio to silane (SiH₄) ranging from 0.1% to 2%. Inyet another embodiment, in which the conductivity type dopant is p-type,the dopant gas for may be trimethylboron (TMB) present in a ratio tosilane (SiH₄) ranging from 0.1% to 10%.

Examples of the semiconducting material layers that can be used as theat least one first semiconductor material 18 include, but not limitedto, a-Si:H, a-Ge:H, a-SiGe:H, a-SiC:H, a-SiO:H, a-SiN:H, nc-Si:H,nc-Ge:H, nc-SiGe:H, nc-SiC:H, nc-SiO:H, nc-SiN:H, μc-Si:H, μc-Ge:H,μc-SiGe:H, μc-SiC:H, μc-SiO:H, μc-SiN:H or combinations thereof; nc- andμc-stand for nano-crystalline and micro-crystalline, respectively, “a”stands for amorphous, and “H” stands for hydrogenated.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 4after forming first electrode material portions 20 on an uppermostsurface of the at least one first semiconductor material 18 and atopeach first contact opening 16. Each first electrode material portion 20can be comprised of a conductive material including, for example, adoped Si-containing material, a conductive metal, a conductive metalalloy comprising at least two conductive metals, a conductive metalnitride, a transparent conductive oxide and/or a conductive metalsilicide. Examples of conductive metals that can be used include, forexample, Cu, W, Pt, Al, Pd, Ru, Ni, and/or Ir. In some embodiments, eachfirst electrode portion 20 is comprised of a same conductive material.In another embodiment, a first set of first electrode material portions20 may comprise a first conductive material, while a second set of firstelectrode material portions 20 may comprise a second conductive materialthat differs from the first conductive material. Each first electrodematerial portion 20 can have a thickness from 1 nm to 1000 nm. Otherthicknesses that are lesser than, or greater than, the aforementionedthickness range can also be employed as the thickness for each firstelectrode material portion 20.

In some embodiments, each first electrode material portion 20 can beformed using a deposition process including, for example, chemical vapordeposition, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, sputtering,chemical solution deposition, or plating. Metal silicides can be formedutilizing any conventional silicidation process that is well known tothose skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the conductive materialcan be patterned by lithography and etching as described hereinabove. Insome embodiments, block mask technology can be used to form firstelectrode material portions 20 that contain different conductivematerials.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 5after removing exposed portions of the at least one first semiconductormaterial 18 and remaining portions of the blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial (i.e., first sacrificial material layer portions 14 r) usingeach first electrode material portion 20 as an etch mask. In thedrawing, each remaining portion of the at least first semiconductormaterial 18 can be referred to as first semiconductor material contact18′. As shown, some of the original sacrificial material remains betweena portion of each first electrode material portion 20 and each firstsemiconductor material contact 18′. Each portion of the originalsacrificial material that remains can be referred to herein as a secondsacrificial material layer portion 14 rr.

In one embodiment, the exposed portions of the at least one firstsemiconductor material 18 and underlying remaining portions of theblanket layer of sacrificial material (i.e, first sacrificial materiallayer portions 14 r) which are not protected by a first electrodematerial portion 20, can be removed utilizing a single etch. In anotherembodiment, two separate etching steps can be used to remove the exposedportions of the at least one first semiconductor material 18 andunderlying remaining portions of the blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial (i.e., first sacrificial material layer portions 14 r) whichare not protected by a first electrode material portion 20.

The etch or etches that can be used in this step of the presentapplication may include for example, a dry etch process such as, forexample, reactive ion etching, plasma etching or ion beam etching.Alternatively, a chemical wet etch can be employed. In one embodiment,the exposed portions of the at least one first semiconductor material 18and underlying remaining portions of the blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial (i.e., the first sacrificial material layer portions 14 r)which are not protected by a first electrode material portion 20 can beremoved by SF₆, SF₆/O₂ or Cl₂F₂/O₂ plasma.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 6after forming another blanket layer of sacrificial material 22 onexposed surfaces of the remaining portions of the blanket layer ofpassivation material (i.e., first passivation material layer portions 12r) and each first electrode material portion 20. The another blanketlayer of passivation material 22 can also be referred to herein as asecond blanket layer of second sacrificial material. The another blanketlayer of sacrificial material 22 can include one of the semiconductormaterials mentioned above for the blanket layer of sacrificial material14. Also, one of the techniques mentioned above in forming the blanketlayer of sacrificial material 14 can also be used in forming the anotherblanket layer of sacrificial material 22.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 7after patterning the another blanket layer of sacrificial material 22 toinclude second contact openings 24 that expose surface portions of thefirst passivation material layer portions 12 r. The remaining portionsof the another blanket layer of sacrificial material 22 can be referredto herein as other sacrificial material layer portions 22 r. Thepatterning of the another blanket layer of sacrificial material toinclude second contact openings 24 includes the same technique asmentioned above in patterning the blanket layer of sacrificial material14 to include first contact openings 16. Each second contact opening 24can have a dimension, i.e., width, within the range mentioned above forthe first contact openings 16. The number of second contact openings 24that are formed varies and is dependent on the type and number ofsemiconductor devices that are to be subsequently formed on differentsurface portions of the crystalline semiconductor material 10. In oneembodiment, and as illustrated in the drawings, three second contactopenings 24 are formed.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 8after transferring each second contact opening 24 into remaining firstpassivation material layer portions 12 r using remaining portions of theanother blanket layer of sacrificial material (i.e., the othersacrificial material layer portions 22 r) as an etch mask. The patterntransfer of each second contact opening 24 can be performed utilizingthe same techniques (i.e., etching) as mentioned above in transferringeach first contact opening 16 into the blanket layer of passivationmaterial 12. After the transferring of each second contact opening 24,second surface portions of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 areexposed. In the drawings, each reference numeral 12 a denotes a secondremaining passivation material layer portion that can form afterexposing each second surface portion of the crystalline semiconductormaterial 10.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 9after forming at least one second semiconductor material 26 on eachsecond surface portion of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 andatop remaining portions of the other blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial 22 r. The second semiconductor material 26 that can be employedin the present application can include the same or differentsemiconductor material(s) and, any of the various embodiments, mentionedabove for the first semiconductor material 18 as long as theconductivity of the second semiconductor material is opposite from theconductivity type used as the first semiconductor material 18. Hence,the first semiconductor material 18 can be used as n-type or p-typesemiconductor contacts, while the second semiconductor material 26 canbe used as the other of p-type or n-type semiconductor contacts not usedas the contact that includes the first semiconductor material 18.

Referring now to FIG. 11, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 10after forming second electrode material portions 28 on differentportions of the at least one second semiconductor material 26 and atopeach second contact opening 24. Each second electrode material portion28 may comprise one of the conductive materials mentioned above for thefirst electrode material portions 20. Also, one of the techniquesmentioned above in forming the first electrode material portions 20 canalso be used here for forming each second electrode material portion 28.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 11after removing exposed portions of the at least one second semiconductormaterial 26 and remaining portions of the other blanket layer ofsacrificial material (i.e., other sacrificial material layer portions 22r) using each second electrode material portion 28 as an etch mask. Inthe drawing, each remaining portion of the at least one secondsemiconductor material 26 can be referred to as a second semiconductormaterial contact 26′. As shown, some of the other sacrificial material22 remains between a portion of each second electrode material portion28 and each second semiconductor material contact 26′. This portion ofthe other sacrificial material layer that remains can be referred toherein as a second other sacrificial material layer portion 22 a.

In one embodiment, the exposed portions of the at least one secondsemiconductor material 26 and remaining portions of the blanket layer ofother sacrificial material which are not protected by the secondelectrode material portions 28, can be removed utilizing a single etch.In another embodiment, two separate etching steps can be used at thispoint of the present application. The etch or etches that can be used inthis step of the present application may include for example, a dry etchprocess such as, for example, reactive ion etching, plasma etching orion beam etching. Alternatively, a chemical wet etch can be employed. Inone embodiment, an etch using SF₆, SF₆/O₂ or Cl₂F₂/O₂ plasma can beused.

It is noted that within FIG. 12, the remaining sacrificial materiallayer portions 14 rr is located between an outer portion of each firstsemiconductor material contact 18′ and upper surfaces of the passivationmaterial layer portions 12 rr. Also, the vertical edges of the elements14 a, 18′ and 20 are coincident with each other. It is noted that withinFIG. 12, the remaining other sacrificial material 22 a is locatedbetween an outer portion of each second semiconductor material contact26′ and upper surfaces of the passivation material layer portions 12 a.Also, the vertical edges of the elements 22 a, 26′ and 28 are coincidentwith each other.

Referring now FIG. 13, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 12after defining active regions in the crystalline semiconductor material10. Each active region includes a crystalline semiconductor materialportion which is derived from crystalline semiconductor material 10. Assuch, each crystalline semiconductor material portion is composed of thesame crystalline semiconductor material as crystalline semiconductormaterial 10. In the drawing, a first crystalline semiconductor materialportion 10A is present in a first active region A1 and a secondcrystalline semiconductor material portion 10B is present in a secondactive region A2. As is shown, a gap 30 is located between a sidewallsurface of the first active region A1 and a sidewall surface of thesecond active region A2. The active regions A1, A2 can be formed bylithography and etching. As shown, the gap 30 exposes a surface of theunderlying insulator layer 8. Although two active regions are disclosedand illustrated, the number of active regions is not limited to only twoactive regions. Instead, any number first active regions A1, and anynumber of second active regions A2 can be formed. The shape of theactive regions can vary. Examples shapes for the active regions includessquare, rectangular, circular, etc.

Notably, FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary semiconductor structure of thepresent application which includes a first active region A1 comprising afirst crystalline semiconductor portion 10A of a first conductivity typelocated on one portion of a surface of an insulator layer 8, and asecond active region A2 comprising a second crystalline semiconductorportion 10B of the first conductivity type located on another portion ofthe insulator layer 8, wherein the second active region A2 is laterallyspaced apart from the first active region A1 by gap 30. The structurefurther includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) located within thefirst active region 10A and comprising an emitter, E, of a secondconductivity type, a base, B, of the first conductivity type and acollector, C, of the second conductivity type, wherein the base, B, islocated between, and laterally spaced apart from, the emitter, E, andthe collector, C. The, structure also includes a junction field effecttransistor (JFET) located within the second active region 10B andcomprising a drain, D, of the first conductivity type, a gate, G, of thesecond conductivity type, and a source, S of the first conductivitytype, wherein the gate, G, is located between, and laterally spacedapart from, the drain, D, and the source, S. In accordance with thepresent application, the second conductivity type is opposite the firstconductivity type. It should be noted that although the drawings showthe emitter to the left of the base, and the drain to the left of thegate, the present application also contemplates structures in which theemitter is to the right of the base, and the drain is to the right ofthe gate. It should also be noted that while the drawings illustrate oneBJT and one JFET located on the same crystalline semiconductor material,the semiconductor structure of the present application is not limited toonly one BJT and one JFET. Instead, any number of BJTs and any number ofJFETs can be formed.

In the illustrated embodiment, the emitter, the collector and the gateeach include the first semiconductor material contact 18′, while thebase, the source and the drain include each the second semiconductormaterial contact 26′. In accordance with an embodiment of the presentapplication, and when the crystalline semiconductor material is p-type,then the emitter, the collector and the gate each include an n-typesemiconductor material, while the base, the drain and the source eachinclude a p-type semiconductor material. In another embodiment of thepresent application, and when the crystalline semiconductor material isn-type, then the emitter, the collector and the gate each include ap-type semiconductor material, while the base, the drain and the sourceeach include an n-type semiconductor material.

The formation of the active regions can be performed earlier in theprocess flow as well. For example, the active regions A1, A2 can beformed into the crystalline semiconductor material 10 prior to formingthe blanket layer of passivation material 12 on the crystallinesemiconductor substrate 10. In some embodiments, the patterning of thecrystalline semiconductor material 10 as a first step and defining JFETsgate widths larger than the active region width may be advantageous inimproving the electrostatic control of the JFET gate. This is so becausethe JFET gate will be in contact with the active region not only fromthe top, but also from the two sidewall surfaces parallel to the planeof the drawings wherein the crystalline semiconductor material 10 hasbeen patterned (assuming the crystalline semiconductor material 10 ispatterned into square regions).

By way of illustration, an inverter circuit will now be formed using thestructure shown in FIG. 13. Specifically, and referring to FIG. 14,there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 13 after formation of a firstinterconnect level 34 which includes first metal contacts. The firstinterconnect level 34 can be formed by first forming a layer of adielectric material 35 on the entire structure shown in FIG. 13. Thelayer of dielectric material 35 can be composed of silicon oxide or adielectric material having a dielectric constant that is lower thansilicon oxide, such as, for example, an organosilicate compound thatcontains atoms of Si, C, 0 and H. Other dielectric materials besidesthose mentioned can also be employed. The layer of dielectric material35 can be formed by a deposition process including, for example,chemical vapor deposition or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition.Following the deposition of the layer of dielectric material 35, thelayer of dielectric material 35 can be patterned by lithography andetching to include first via openings that extend to upper surfaces ofemitter, the collector, the drain and the source.

After providing the first via openings into the layer of dielectricmaterial 35, first metal contacts can be formed within each via opening.In FIG. 14, there is shown a first metal contact 36A to the emitter, ashared first metal contact 36B to the collector and the drain, and afirst metal contact 36C to the source. The first metal contacts can beformed by deposition of a conductive metal and then the depositedconductive metal is patterned by lithography and etching. The depositionof the conductive metal can include, for example, chemical vapordeposition, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, plating, orsputter. Examples of conductive metals that can be used in forming thefirst metal contacts include any of the conductive metals or metalalloys that are mentioned above for first conductive electrode portions20.

Referring now to FIG. 15, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 14after formation of a second interconnect level 38 which includes asecond metal contact. The second interconnect level includes anotherlayer of dielectric material 39 which can be the same or different fromlayer of dielectric material 35 of the first interconnect level 34. Theanother layer of dielectric material 39 can be formed utilizing adeposition process, and then patterned by lithography and etching toinclude second via openings. The second via openings can extend down tothe base and the gate. A second metal contact 40 can include one of theconductive metals mentioned above for the first conductive electrodeportion 20, and the second metal contact 40 can be formed utilizing oneof the deposition processes mentioned above for the first metalcontacts. The resultant structure forms an inverter circuit which isschematically illustrated in FIGS. 28A-28B of the present application.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 16-27 which illustrate another embodimentof the present application in which a self aligned process is employedin forming an exemplary semiconductor structure in accordance with thepresent application, which can be used within various circuits such asan inverter circuit. Although an inverter circuit is described andillustrated, the same basic processing step can be used in forming othertypes of circuits including, but not limited to, a SRAM cell circuit, apass transistor circuit, and an OLED driver circuit.

This embodiment of the present application includes the same basicprocessing steps as the first embodiment except that the at least onefirst semiconductor material 18 includes a semiconductor material thathas crystalline portions 18C and adjoining non-crystalline portions18NC, and that the at least one second semiconductor material 26includes a semiconductor material that has crystalline portions 26C andadjoining non-crystalline portions 26NC.

Referring first to FIG. 16, there is illustrated the structure shown inFIG. 3 after forming at least a first semiconductor material layer thatcomprises crystalline semiconductor material portions 18C and adjoiningnon-crystalline semiconductor material portions 18NC. As shown, eachcrystalline semiconductor portion 18C is located directly on an exposedfirst surface portion of the crystalline semiconductor material 10,while each non-crystalline semiconductor portion 18NC is formed on allother surfaces. Such a semiconductor material can be formed as describedabove in conjunction with an embodiment mentioned for forming thestructure shown in FIG. 4. The first semiconductor material comprisingthe crystalline semiconductor material portions 18C and the adjoiningnon-crystalline semiconductor material portions 18NC can be hydrogenatedor non-hydrogenated, and typically includes a dopant, as described inthe first embodiment of the present application. In one embodiment, thefirst semiconductor material comprising the crystalline semiconductormaterial portions 18C and the adjoining non-crystalline semiconductormaterial portions 18NC may comprise a same conductivity type dopant asthe crystalline semiconductor material 10. In another embodiment, thefirst semiconductor material comprising the crystalline semiconductormaterial portions 18C and the adjoining non-crystalline semiconductormaterial portions 18NC may comprise an opposite conductivity type dopantas the crystalline semiconductor material 10.

Referring now to FIG. 17, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 16after forming another blanket layer of sacrificial material 22 atop thefirst semiconductor material. The another blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial 22 used in this embodiment of the present application is thesame as that mentioned above in conjunction with forming the structureshown in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment of the present application. Notethat no separate electrode material portions, i.e., first electrodematerial portions 20, need to be formed within this embodiment of thepresent application. As such, the processing sequence is reduced ascompared to the processing sequence described above in the firstembodiment of the present application.

Referring now to FIG. 18, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 17after forming second contact openings 24 within portions of the anotherblanket layer of sacrificial material 22, portions of thenon-crystalline semiconductor material portions 18NC of the firstsemiconductor material, and within remaining portions of the sacrificialmaterial 14 r, wherein each second contact opening 24 exposes a surfaceof one of the remaining passivation material layer portions 12 r. Eachsecond contact opening 24 can be formed by lithography and etching asdescribed above in conjunction with providing the second contactopenings 24 within FIG. 8 of the first embodiment of the presentapplication. In this drawing, 14 a denotes another remaining portion ofthe sacrificial material layer 14 that is formed.

Referring now to FIG. 19, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 18after transferring each second contact opening 24 to the exposedpassivation material layer portion 12 r, wherein after the transferringof each second contact opening 24, second surface portions of thecrystalline semiconductor material 10 are exposed. The transferring ofeach second contact opening 24 into the remaining passivation materiallayer portions (e.g., 12 r) includes the same etch or etches asdescribed above in conjunction with providing the structure shown inFIG. 9 of the first embodiment of the present application. In thisdrawing, 12 a denotes another remaining portion of passivation materiallayer 12.

Referring now to FIG. 20, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 19after forming at least a second semiconductor material on each exposedsecond surface portion of the crystalline semiconductor material 10 andatop remaining portions of the another blanket layer of sacrificialmaterial 22 r, wherein the second semiconductor material includes secondcrystalline semiconductor material portions 26C and adjoiningnon-crystalline semiconductor portions 26NC. As shown, each crystallinesemiconductor portion 26C is located directly on each exposed secondsurface portion of the crystalline semiconductor material 10, while eachnon-crystalline semiconductor portions 26NC is formed on all othersurfaces. Such a semiconductor material can be formed as described abovein conjunction with an embodiment described for forming the structureshown in FIG. 10. The second semiconductor material comprising thecrystalline semiconductor material portions 26C and the adjoiningnon-crystalline semiconductor material portions 26NC can be hydrogenatedor non-hydrogenated, and typically includes a dopant, as described inthe first embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, thesecond semiconductor material comprising the crystalline semiconductormaterial portions 26C and the adjoining non-crystalline semiconductormaterial portions 26NC comprise a different conductivity type dopant ascompared to the first semiconductor material comprising the crystallinesemiconductor material portions 18C and the adjoining non-crystallinesemiconductor material portions 18NC.

Referring to FIG. 21, there is illustrated the structure shown in FIG.20 after performing an etch. The etch removes non-crystallinesemiconductor portions 26NC, all remaining portions of the other blanketlayer of sacrificial material 22 r, non-crystalline semiconductorportions 18NC, and all remaining portions of the blanket layer ofsacrificial material 14 rr. The etch used in providing the structureshown in FIG. 25 includes an etch process which selectively removesnon-crystalline layers (without removing or negligibly removing thecrystalline layers). Each crystalline semiconductor portion 18C, 26Cwhich remains represent a first semiconductor material contact and asecond semiconductor material contact, respectively.

An example of such an etch process is disclosed, for example, in U.S.Patent Publication No. 2012/0210932, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, this etch processis performed in-situ. A non-limiting example of such an etch processwhich can be used in removing non-crystalline semiconductor materialsselective to crystalline semiconductor material is etching by hydrogenplasma.

Referring now to FIG. 22, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 21after forming active regions in the crystalline semiconductor material10. Each active region includes a crystalline semiconductor materialportion which is derived from crystalline semiconductor material 10. Assuch, each crystalline semiconductor material portion is composed of thesame crystalline semiconductor material as crystalline semiconductormaterial 10. In the drawing, a first crystalline semiconductor materialportion 10A is present in first active region A1 and a secondcrystalline semiconductor material portion 10B is present in secondactive region A2. As is shown, a gap 30 is located between a sidewallsurface of first active region A1 and a sidewall surface of secondactive region A2. The active regions can be formed by lithography andetching. As shown, the gap 30 exposes a surface of the underlyinginsulator layer 8. As was the case in the first embodiment, the numberof active regions is not limited to two.

Notably, FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary semiconductor structure of thepresent application which includes a first active region A1 comprising afirst crystalline semiconductor portion 10A of a first conductivity typelocated on one portion of a surface of an insulator layer 8, and asecond active region A2 comprising a second crystalline semiconductorportion 10B of the first conductivity type located on another portion ofthe insulator layer 8, wherein the second active region A2 is laterallyspaced apart from the first active region A1 by gap 30. The structurefurther includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) located within thefirst active region 10A and comprising an emitter, E, of a secondconductivity type, a base, B, of the first conductivity type and acollector, C, of the second conductivity type, wherein the base, B, islocated between, and laterally spaced apart from, the emitter, E, andthe collector, C. The structure also includes a junction field effecttransistor (JFET) located within the second active region A2 andcomprising a drain, D, of the first conductivity type, a gate, G, of thesecond conductivity type, and a source, S, of the first conductivitytype, wherein the gate, G, is located between, and laterally spacedapart from, the drain, D, and the source, S. In accordance with thepresent application, the second conductivity type is opposite the firstconductivity type.

In the illustrated embodiment, the emitter, the collector and the gateeach include a first crystalline semiconductor portion 18C as asemiconductor material contact, while the base, the source and the draineach include a second crystalline semiconductor material portion 26C asa semiconductor material contact. In accordance with an embodiment ofthe present application, and when the crystalline semiconductor materialis p-type, then the emitter, the collector, and the gate, each includean n-type semiconductor material, while the base, the drain, and thesource each include a p-type semiconductor material. In anotherembodiment of the present application, and when the crystallinesemiconductor material is n-type, then the emitter, the collector andthe gate each include a p-type semiconductor material, while the base,the drain and the source each include an n-type semiconductor material.

The formation of the active regions can be performed earlier in theprocess flow as well. For example, the active regions A1, A2 can beformed into the crystalline semiconductor material 10 prior to formingthe blanket layer of passivation material 12 on the crystallinesemiconductor substrate 10. In some embodiments, the patterning of thecrystalline semiconductor material 10 as a first step and defining JFETsgate widths larger than the active region width may be advantageous inimproving the electrostatic control of the JFET gate. This is so becausethe JFET gate will be in contact with the active region not only fromthe top, but also from the two sidewall surfaces parallel to the planeof the drawings wherein the crystalline semiconductor material 10 hasbeen patterned (assuming the crystalline semiconductor material 10 ispatterned into square regions).

By way of illustration and inverter circuit will now be formed using thestructure shown in FIG. 22. Referring first to FIG. 23, there isillustrated the structure of FIG. 22 after forming electrode materialportions 50 on each crystalline semiconductor portion 18C, 26C.Electrode material portion 50 includes one of the conductive materialsmentioned above for the first electrode material portion 20, and it canalso be formed utilizing one of the techniques mentioned above informing the first electrode material portions 20.

Referring now to FIG. 24, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 23after formation of a first interconnect level 34 containing first metalcontacts in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.The first interconnect level 34 of this embodiment can be formed asdescribed above in FIG. 14 of the present application. The firstinterconnect level 34 also includes a dielectric material 35 (as alsodescribed above in connection with providing the structure shown in FIG.18 of the present application). Also, the structure shown in FIG. 24includes a first metal contact 36A to the emitter E, a shared firstmetal contact 36B to the collector, C, and the drain, D, and a firstmetal contact 36C to the source, S. The first metal contacts can beformed and contain conductive metals as mentioned above in connectionwith providing the structure shown in FIG. 14.

Referring now to FIG. 25, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 24after formation of a second interconnect level 38 containing secondmetal contacts. The second interconnect level 38 includes another layerof dielectric material 39 which can be the same or different from layerof dielectric material 35 of the first interconnect level 34. Theanother layer of dielectric material 39 can be formed utilizing adeposition process, and then patterned by lithography and etching toinclude second via openings. The second via openings can extend down tothe base, B and the gate, G. A second metal contact 40 can include oneof the conductive metals mentioned above for the first conductiveelectrode, and the second metal contact 40 can be formed utilizing oneof the deposition processes mentioned above for the first metalcontacts. The structure shown in FIG. 25 represents an inverter circuitof the present application which is schematically shown in FIGS. 28A-28Bof the present application.

Referring now to FIG. 26, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 22after formation of electrode material portions 50 on each crystallinesemiconductor portion 18C, 26C in accordance with another embodiment ofthe present disclosure. As shown, one of the electrode material portions50A can extend between the different device regions and can be presentatop the collector, C, of the HBT and the drain, D, of the JFET. Thematerials and formation of the electrode material portions 50 in thisembodiment of the present application is the same as that previouslymentioned above. In this embodiment, each electrode material portion 50(including 50A) can serve as a first level interconnect metal.

Referring now to FIG. 27, there is illustrated the structure of FIG. 26after forming an interconnect level 46 containing a metal contact 48.The interconnect level 46 includes a layer of dielectric material 47which can be selected from the dielectric materials mentioned above fordielectric material 35. The layer of dielectric material 47 can beformed utilizing a deposition process, and then patterned by lithographyand etching to include second via openings. The second via openings canextend down to the base, B, and the gate, G. Metal contact 48 caninclude one of the conductive metals mentioned above for the conductiveelectrode portions 28, and the second metal contact 48 can be formedutilizing one of the deposition processes mentioned above. The structureshown in FIG. 27 represents an inverter circuit of the presentapplication which is schematically shown in FIGS. 28A-28B of the presentapplication.

Various complementary circuits that can include the semiconductorstructure of the present application are now shown by way of example.Other complementary circuits can also be produced utilizing the samebasic processing steps mentioned above. In some embodiments of thepresent application, the complementary circuits can be designed suchthat one type of transistor (i.e., BJT or JFET) is normally-ON, whilethe other type of transistor is normally-OFF.

Each complementary circuit of the present application includes a bipolarjunction transistor located within a first active region and comprisingan emitter of a second conductivity type, a base of a first conductivitytype and a collector of the second conductivity type, wherein the baseis located between, and laterally spaced apart from, the emitter and thecollector, the first active region comprises a first crystallinesemiconductor portion of the first conductivity type, and wherein thefirst conductivity type is opposite from the second conductivity type;and a junction field effect transistor located within a second activeregion and comprising a drain of the first conductivity type, a gate ofthe second conductivity type, and a source of the first conductivitytype, wherein the gate is located between, and laterally spaced apartfrom, the drain and the source, the second active region comprises asecond crystalline semiconductor portion of the first conductivity type,and wherein there is at least one electrical couple between the bipolarjunction transistor and the junction field effect transistor.

In some embodiments and when an inverter circuit if formed, thecollector of the bipolar junction transistor is electrically coupled tothe drain of the junction field effect transistor and the base of thebipolar junction transistor is electrically coupled to the gate of thejunction field effect transistor. In one embodiment where thecrystalline semiconductor material 10 is comprised of a p-typesemiconductor (See, FIG. 28A), the collector of the bipolar junctiontransistor is electrically coupled to the drain of the junction fieldeffect transistor, and the base of the bipolar junction transistor iselectrically coupled to the gate of the junction field effecttransistor. In such an embodiment, the source of the junction fieldeffect transistor is electrically coupled to a voltage source Vdd andthe emitter of the bipolar junction transistor is electrically coupledto ground. Note Vdd and ground correspond to the positive and negativeterminals of a power supply, respectively. If the ground voltage isdefined as the reference voltage (i.e. zero) which is common in the art,then Vdd is a positive voltage. As common in the art, when thecrystalline semiconductor material 10 is comprised of a p-typesemiconductor, the BJT is typically referred to as an n-p-n BJT and theJFET is typically referred to as a p-JFET. In another embodiment wherethe crystalline semiconductor material 10 is comprised of an n-typesemiconductor, (See, FIG. 28B) the collector of the bipolar junctiontransistor is electrically coupled to the drain of the junction fieldeffect transistor, the base of the bipolar junction transistor iselectrically coupled to the gate of the junction field effecttransistor, the source of the junction field effect transistor iselectrically coupled to ground and the emitter of the bipolar junctiontransistor electrically coupled to a voltage source Vdd. As commonlyreferred to in the art, when the crystalline semiconductor material 10is comprised of an n-type semiconductor, the BJT is referred to as ap-n-p BJT and the JFET is referred to as an n-JFET.

In some embodiments, and when a pass transistor circuit (see FIG.29A-29B) is provided, the collector of the bipolar junction transistoris electrically coupled to the drain of the junction field effecttransistor and the base of the bipolar junction transistor iselectrically coupled to the gate of the junction field effecttransistor. Note FIG. 29A illustrates a pass transistor circuitcomprised of an n-p-n BJT and a p-JFET implemented on a p-typecrystalline semiconductor material 10. A similar pass transistor circuit(see FIG. 29B) comprised of a p-n-p BJT and an n-JFET may be implementedusing an n-type crystalline semiconductor material 10.

Referring to FIG. 28A there is shown a circuit schematic of an exemplarycomplementary inverter circuit including the semiconductor structure ofthe present application implemented using a p-type semiconductorsubstrate. Specifically, the inverter circuit shown in FIG. 28A includesthe semiconductor structure of the present application. As shown, thegate of the JFET is electrically coupled to the base of the BJT, andboth the gate of JFET and the base of the BJT are electrically coupledto input voltage V_(in). As is also shown, the collector of the BJT iselectrically coupled to the drain of the JFET, and both the collector orthe BJT and the drain of the JFET are electrically coupled outputvoltage V_(out). As is further shown, the source of the JFET iselectrically coupled to supply bias source Vdd, while the emitter of theBJT is electrically coupled to ground, Gnd. The inverter circuit of thepresent application functions as follows: The input voltage Vin isinverted, i.e., if Vin is low, Vout is high and vice versa. When Vin ishigh, the BJT is ON and the JFET is OFF, so that Vout is settled to avoltage close to Ggnd, i.e., low. When Vin is low, the BJT is OFF andthe JFET is ON, so that Vout is settled to a voltage close to Vdd, i.e.,high.

Referring now to FIG. 29A, there is shown a circuit schematic of anexemplary pass transistor circuit including the semiconductor structureof the present application. The swing range of the complementary passtransistor circuit of the present application is improved compared to asingle pass transistor. Note D and D_bar are complementary inputs, if Dis high, D_bar is low and vice versa. The pass transistor circuit of thepresent application functions as follows: If a single pass transistor isused, e.g., if only the BJT is used: when D is high, provided that Vinis smaller than D minus the turn-on voltage of the BJT, the BJT is ONand the input voltage Vin is transferred to Vout, i.e., Vout is equal toVin, minus the voltage drop across the BJT. The voltage drop across theBJT depends on the ON resistance of the BJT and desired to be small sothat Vout is as close to Vin as possible. The ON resistance of the BJThowever increases as Vin is increased from low to high. Similarly, ifonly the JFET is used: when D_bar is low, provided that Vin is largerthan D_bar minus the threshold voltage of the JFET, the JFET is ON andthe input voltage Vin is transferred to Vout, i.e., Vout is equal toVin, minus the voltage drop across the JFET. The voltage drop across theJFET depends on the ON resistance of the JFET and desired to be small sothat Vout is as close to Vin as possible. The ON resistance of the JFEThowever increases as Vin is decreased from high to low.

However, if a JFET and BJT are used in parallel with D and D_bar controlvoltages synched to be complementary, the ON resistance of thecomplementary pass transistor is low for a broader range of Vin (fromlow to high). This is because the ON resistance of the pass transistoris the parallel combination of the ON resistances of the single passtransistors.

Referring now to FIG. 30, there is illustrated a circuit schematic of anexemplary OLED driver circuit including the semiconductor structure ofthe present application. In this example, two JFETs are shown and areelectrically coupled to a single BJT. As illustrated, the gate of one ofJFETs is electrically coupled to the gate of the BJT and the gate of theother JFET is electrically coupled to either the emitter or collector ofthe BJT. The OLED driver circuit of the present application functions asfollows: During the program period, Vselect is high, so the BJT is ONand the program voltage (VDD-VData) is stored across the storagecapacitor Cs. Since Vselect is high, the bottom JFET (the one connectedto OLED) is OFF to ensure no OLED illumination during the programperiod, regardless of the value of the voltage across Cs. (Note thevoltage across Cs is also the voltage across the Gate-Source of the topJFET and may change during the charge/discharge of Cs).

During the illumination period, Vselect is low, so that the BJT is OFF[and therefore the VData line is disconnected from storage capacitor Csand can be used to program a neighboring pixel (which now has a highvalue on its Vselect line) without disturbing this pixel]. Since Vselectis low, the bottom JFET is ON and the OLED illuminates. The OLEDbrightness depends on the OLED current which in turn depends on thevoltage stored across Cs.

In summary, the presence of the BJT and JFET in a complementaryconfiguration (i.e. BJT is ON when JFET is OFF and vice versa) ensuresno illumination during the programming of the pixel which eliminates theeffect of the transients (during the charging/discharging of Cs) on thepixel brightness. This is particularly important for videos becauseunlike still images, a different voltage is programmed across Cs everytime the pixel is programmed. (The transients during charge/discharge ofCs may produce flicker in the video). Note this exemplary circuit isimplemented with a p-type semiconductor substrate. A similar circuit maybe implemented with an n-type semiconductor substrate.

Referring now to FIG. 30, there is shown a circuit schematic of anexemplary complementary SRAM cell circuit with the semiconductorstructure according to an embodiment of the present application. Theillustrated circuit includes a first complementary inverter circuit anda second complementary inverter circuit in a cross-coupled configurationhaving an output of each inverter feedback as input to the otherinverter, wherein both the first complementary and second complementaryinverter circuits comprise: a bipolar junction transistor located withina first active region and comprising an emitter of a second conductivitytype, a base of a first conductivity type and a collector of the secondconductivity type, wherein the base is located between, and laterallyspaced apart from, the emitter and the collector, the first activeregion comprises a first crystalline semiconductor portion of the firstconductivity type, and wherein the first conductivity type is oppositefrom the second conductivity type; and a junction field effecttransistor located within a second active region and comprising a drainof the first conductivity type, a gate of the second conductivity type,and a source of the first conductivity type, wherein the gate is locatedbetween, and laterally spaced apart from, the drain and the source, thesecond active region comprises a second crystalline semiconductorportion of the first conductivity type, wherein the collector of thebipolar junction transistor is electrically coupled to the drain of thejunction field effect transistor and wherein the base of the bipolarjunction transistor is electrically coupled to the gate of the junctionfield effect transistor, and the source of the junction field effecttransistor is electrically coupled to a voltage source Vdd and theemitter of the bipolar junction transistor is electrically coupled toground. Note this exemplary circuit is implemented with a p-typesemiconductor substrate. A similar circuit may be implemented with ann-type semiconductor substrate.

The SRAM cell is comprised of pass transistors (also called accesstransistors) M5 and M6 which may be either BJT or JFET (BJT in thisdrawing) and two cross-coupled inverters, the inverter comprised of M1and M2, and the inverter comprised of M3 and M4. In a conventional SRAM,the inverters are conventional, but in this example they are comprisedof a JFET and BJT according to the present application. The operation isthe same as that of a conventional SRAM. When the word-line (WL) isasserted (i.e., if WL is high for n-p-n BJT pass transistors as shown inthis example or for p-JFET; or if WL is low for p-n-p BJT or for n-JFETpass transistors), the pass transistors are ON, thus allowing the reador write operations by allowing the transfer of the stored values Q andQ_bar to the bit lines BL and BL_bar (read) or the other way (write).Note “bar” denotes complementary values. Since the input of one inverteris connected to the output of the other inverter and vice versa, theinput value transferred from the bit lines to the storage nodes is“latched in”, i.e., stored while the SRAM is in the idle mode (i.e. whenWL is not asserted and therefore the pass transistors are OFF). Note thepresent disclosure is applicable to other types of SRAM with fewer orlarger number of transistors known in the art; by replacing the standardinverters in the SRAM by the inverters disclosed herein. Also note thesingle pass transistors in SRAM cells may be replaced with complementarypass transistors (which requires the addition of a WL_bar line). This isalso applicable to the present disclosure by replacing a conventionalcomplementary pass transistor with a pass transistor according to theprinciples of the present disclosure.

Note that the process flows within the various embodiments of thepresent application are non-limiting examples, and may include processsteps not shown (for example thermal or chemical treatments) or someprocess steps may be carried out differently, or in different order. Forexample, in some embodiments, other processes or device fabricationsteps may be performed between forming a first contact region (or afirst set of contact regions) and forming a second (or a second set ofcontact regions) on the same device area, in the vicinity of the samedevice area, or at other parts of the chip. Also, other process stepstypically precede and/or follow the process steps shown in theseexamples. Also variations to the illustrated process flows (in order,and/or non-critical steps) may be perceived by one skilled in the art.Also, the collector, the emitter, source and base positioning can beswitched. Further, and depending on the type of circuit being formed,the metal contacts formed in the various interconnect levels can beswitched to provide a desired circuit configuration.

While the present application has been particularly shown and describedwith respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formsand details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present application. It is therefore intended that the presentapplication not be limited to the exact forms and details described andillustrated, but fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A complementary circuit comprising: a bipolarjunction transistor located within a first active region and comprisingan emitter of a second conductivity type, a base of a first conductivitytype and a collector of the second conductivity type, wherein the baseis located between, and laterally spaced apart from, the emitter and thecollector, the first active region comprises a first crystallinesemiconductor portion of the first conductivity type, and wherein thefirst conductivity type is opposite from the second conductivity type;and a junction field effect transistor located within a second activeregion and comprising a drain of the first conductivity type, a gate ofthe second conductivity type, and a source of the first conductivitytype, wherein the gate is located between, and laterally spaced apartfrom, the drain and the source, the second active region comprises asecond crystalline semiconductor portion of the first conductivity type,and wherein there is at least one electrical couple between said bipolarjunction transistor and said junction field effect transistor.
 2. Thecomplementary circuit of claim 1, wherein the collector of said bipolarjunction transistor is electrically coupled to the drain of saidjunction field effect transistor and wherein the base of said bipolarjunction transistor is electrically coupled to the gate of said junctionfield effect transistor.
 3. The complementary circuit of claim 2,wherein the source of the junction field effect transistor iselectrically coupled to a first terminal of a power supply and theemitter of the bipolar junction transistor is electrically coupled to asecond terminal of said power supply.
 4. The complementary circuit ofclaim 1, wherein the collector of the bipolar junction transistor iselectrically coupled to the drain of the junction field effecttransistor, the source of the junction field effect transistor iselectrically coupled to a first terminal of a power supply and theemitter of the bipolar junction transistor electrically coupled to asecond terminal of said power supply, and wherein the crystallinesemiconductor material is comprised of a p-type crystallinesemiconductor material and the first terminal of the power supply has apositive polarity with respect to the second terminal.
 5. Thecomplementary circuit of claim 1, wherein the collector of the bipolarjunction transistor is electrically coupled to the drain of the junctionfield effect transistor, the source of the junction field effecttransistor is electrically coupled to a first terminal of a power supplyand the emitter of the bipolar junction transistor electrically coupledto a second terminal of said power supply, and wherein the crystallinesemiconductor material is comprised of an n-type semiconductor and thesecond terminal of the power supply has a positive polarity with respectto the first terminal.
 6. The complementary circuit of claim 1, whereinthe collector of said bipolar junction transistor is electricallycoupled to the source of said junction field effect transistor areconfigured to either receive an input signal or provide an output signaland the emitter of said bipolar junction transistor is electricallycoupled to the drain of said junction field effect transistor areconfigured to either receive an input signal or provide an outputsignal, and wherein the base of said bipolar junction transistor isconfigured to receive a first control signal and the gate of saidjunction field effect transistor is configured to receive a secondcontrol signal, said first and second control signals applying a controllogic applied to said input signal.
 7. The complementary circuit ofclaim 6, wherein the crystalline semiconductor material is comprised ofa p-type semiconductor and the collector of said bipolar junctiontransistor and the source of said junction field effect transistor areconfigured to receive an input signal and the emitter of said bipolarjunction transistor and the drain of said junction field effecttransistor are configured to provide an output signal.
 8. Thecomplementary circuit of claim 6, wherein the crystalline semiconductormaterial is comprised of an n-type semiconductor and the emitter of saidbipolar junction transistor and the drain of said junction field effecttransistor are configured to receive an input signal and the collectorof said bipolar junction transistor and the source of said junctionfield effect transistor are configured to provide an output signal.
 9. Acomplementary circuit comprising: a first complementary inverter circuitand a second complementary inverter circuit in a cross-coupledconfiguration having an output of each inverter feedback as input to theother inverter, wherein both said first complementary and secondcomplementary inverter circuits comprise: a bipolar junction transistorlocated within a first active region and comprising an emitter of asecond conductivity type, a base of a first conductivity type and acollector of the second conductivity type, wherein the base is locatedbetween, and laterally spaced apart from, the emitter and the collector,the first active region comprises a first crystalline semiconductorportion of the first conductivity type, and wherein the firstconductivity type is opposite from the second conductivity type; and ajunction field effect transistor located within a second active regionand comprising a drain of the first conductivity type, a gate of thesecond conductivity type, and a source of the first conductivity type,wherein the gate is located between, and laterally spaced apart from,the drain and the source, the second active region comprises a secondcrystalline semiconductor portion of the first conductivity type,wherein the collector of said bipolar junction transistor iselectrically coupled to the drain of said junction field effecttransistor and wherein the base of said bipolar junction transistor iselectrically coupled to the gate of said junction field effecttransistor, and the source of the junction field effect transistor iselectrically coupled to a first terminal of a power supply and theemitter of the bipolar junction transistor is electrically coupled to asecond terminal of said power supply.